Local leaders and community partners celebrate Ashley Landing project
WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCBD) – Local leaders and community partners kicked off the Ashley Landing project with a celebration.
The vacant shopping mall is expected to become a 32-acre mixed-use development. It will be home to retail and dining, multi-family units, townhomes, and a greenspace. Charleston Stage members performed to kick the event off, as they and Lowcountry Land Trust will eventually move into the new space. Officials said there is excitement for the revitalization of West Ashley.
'I think that this is going to be a transformational project for a long, neglected part of our city. It's exciting to see it actually kick off here, it's been like I say 20 years in the making. Couldn't be more excited about the team and the community input. So, we're really excited about the future of this site,' William Cogswell, mayor of the City of Charleston, said.
The planned community hub was designed by EDENS alongside the city and community. The developer added that it was a priority for this project to be what residents wanted. City leaders said this is the largest investment in West Ashley ever.
'We are really proud to be leading an investment of about $340 million dollars into this community, but more importantly it's an investment of emotional connection,' Jodie McLean, CEO of EDENS, said. 'It's an investment of creating a sense of place where people come together routinely to not only connect with existing neighbors, but to create new friendships and new meaning in their life.'
Also, EDENS revealed the future street names – paying tribute to Lowcountry people and places. These include Sumar Street, Amberly Road, Stage Way, Hannah Jane Lane, Conservation Place, Family Lunch Lane, and Kit Kat Lane. The mayor said this project represents a step towards bettering communities beyond the peninsula, especially with this new community partner.
'When you're investing public money, you want to make sure it's done in a responsible way. So, you want to look at folks that are looking it for the long term – looking at it for the long haul,' Cogswell said. 'Not somebody that's just going to come in, take advance of our macroeconomy, and then pull out. EDENS has an incredible track record for place making, and staying invested in a community. That's really important for the quality when it's all said and done.'
Officials expect the first phase of the project to open in late 2026, with full completion in 2027.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Charleston County received $9.4 million from an Airbnb settlement. Here's how they plan to use it
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) — Charleston County leaders are developing a plan for how to spend millions of dollars received as part of a settlement with vacation rental giant Airbnb. The company agreed in February to pay $60 million to settle a lawsuit brought by more than a dozen South Carolina communities over unpaid accommodations taxes and business license fees. Charleston County recouped $9.4 million as part of that settlement, and members of the county's finance committee offered a first glimpse at how that money will be allocated at its June 5 meeting. The recommendations included roughly $1.4 million for housing initiatives, $1.6 million for financial system upgrades, $2.25 million for drainage projects, and $1.1 million for the visitors bureau. Officials also decided to put $2.5 million into a reserves fund that could be used for disaster relief in anticipation of possible cuts to FEMA. In addition, $500,000 will be allocated toward the City of Charleston's Rapid Housing program as a one-time startup cost, but a county spokesperson said the money would go back to the reserves if the city doesn't receive matching funds from other municipalities. The proposal is expected to go before the full council for a vote on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Townhome residents suing City of Charleston over Dockside evacuation order
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — A group of townhome owners is suing the City of Charleston, arguing they were unfairly forced out of their homes as part of an evacuation of the Dockside condominiums earlier this year. The lawsuit was filed June 3 on behalf of nearly two dozen residents who were ordered on February 27 to vacate their Concord Street townhomes by 5 p.m. the next day due to structural issues in the adjacent Dockside tower. The order came after an engineering firm that was hired to inspect the load capacity of the tower floors deemed the building unsafe for further occupancy and recommended in a February 25 letter that residents be evacuated. Officials cited concrete slabs that they described as 'significantly overstressed' as the reason for the evacuation order, saying, 'the structure has insufficient capacity to continue to be safely occupied until substantial structural strengthening is implemented.' But the complaint asserts that the firm's letter referenced structural deficiencies only with the main tower and made no mention of the townhomes. 'The city chose not to follow its own Ordinances that establish procedures before the City can condemn a building and order citizens to vacate,' an attorney wrote, adding that the firm offered no proof that the townhomes were at risk if the condominium tower collapsed. The lawsuit further claimed that the city's decision lacked consistency, noting that nearby buildings such as the International African American Museum were allowed to stay 'open and occupied' while residential properties were forced to vacate. The filing comes just weeks after the city's Building Code Board of Appeals upheld the order following a May 5 appeal hearing in which townhome residents offered emotional testimony about how the evacuation has impacted them. 'I've lived here 22 years,' Ryan Earheart, now one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said during that hearing. 'These people are my friends, and to see our friends in pain is very hard. The timing of this is very unknown. A lot of people had retired already, and this was their final home.' The lawsuit asks the court to nullify the city's order and allow the individuals to return to their townhomes. This story is developing and may be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson launches exploratory committee for 2026 governor's race
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a Richland County Democrat, announced over the weekend that he is exploring a run for South Carolina governor in 2026. Johnson said Saturday that he is launching an exploratory committee to connect with South Carolina voters and assess support for a potential Democratic bid, suggesting the state is at a 'crossroads.' 'We need leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts people before politics,' Johnson said in his announcement. I believe in South Carolina, where every child, every family, and every community has the opportunity to thrive—and I'm ready to explore how we make that vision a reality.' Since being elected to the state house in 2020, Johnson has become a prominent voice in the state's Democratic coalition, often drawing on personal experiences to shape his arguments on the House floor. His journey from growing up homeless and losing his brother to gun violence to becoming a College of Charleston basketball star and eventually rising to political power was chronicled in a documentary released last November. 'For years, I've worked to uplift our communities — not just with words, but with action,' he said. 'From expanding economic opportunity and improving education to advocating for criminal justice reform and protecting working families, I've stood side by side with South Carolinians through every challenge. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in South Carolina remarks, calls on Democrats 'to be a little meaner' Johnson joins a growing field of people reportedly considering campaigns to replace Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who cannot run again due to term limits. On the Republican side, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and state Sens. Sean Bennett and Josh Kimbrell have said they are exploring runs. Johnson is the first Democrat to publicly express interest in the office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
